MOSCOW (AP) - Russian lawmakers voted to shorten the term that Russian men who opt out of the military must spend in alternative civilian service, passing in the second reading Wednesday a bill aimed at stemming massive draft-dodging.
The proposed legislation must still survive another vote in the State Duma or lower house of parliament, then pass in the upper house and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to enter law. Putin has championed the bill as part of his plans for reforming Russia's cash-strapped and demoralized military.
The Duma adopted changes to the proposed legislation on Wednesday that reduce the period of alternative civilian service from four years to three-and-a-half years. Those men who choose non-combat roles in military units as their alternative civilian service will only have to serve for three years.
Every Russian man aged 18-27 is eligible for the draft, but less than half serve the two-year terms because they receive exemptions for education, are declared unfit to serve, or pay bribes to avoid it.
Many of Russia's draft-dodgers are frightened of the vicious hazing and poor living conditions in the military, as well as the prospect of being sent to the war in Chechnya.
This legislation was aimed at strengthening the alternative of civilian service offered to young Russians by the Constitution but long ignored in practice.
Alternative civilian service "must not be punishment to a person if he does not want to take up arms," Russia's human rights commissioner Oleg Mironov told Echo of Moscow radio, arguing that the initially proposed four year term was too long.
"There is no point in driving people into the army by force," he said.
The Duma also agreed Wednesday that "as a rule," the men who perform alternative civilian service must do so away from the region where they live.
The Duma added that it will be up to a military committee to decide which draftees may opt for alternative service.
Lawmakers also agreed to launch the alternative civilian service in January 2004, instead of in July 2003 as some lawmakers had proposed.
The legislation passed the second-reading with 240 deputies voting in support, 61 against and one abstaining.